How we organize our work

We use a range of different types of committee to undertake different tasks:

Technical Committee (TC) – addressing a number of standardization activities in a specific technology area.

ETSI Project (EP) – similar to a Technical Committee but established to meet particular market sector needs rather than centred around a basic technology. ETSI Projects last for a fixed period of time.

Industry Specification Group (ISG) – operating alongside our traditional standards-making mechanisms and focusing on a very specific activity. ISGs are self-contained, decide their own work programme and approve their own specifications. They offer a quick and easy alternative to the creation of industry fora.

Special Committee (SC) – like TCs, addressing a number of standardization activities in a specific technology area but SCs tend to handle co-ordination, the gathering of requirements and very specific support activities rather than drafting standards and specifications.

Specialist Task Force (STF) – groups of technical experts who come together for a defined period (typically a few months) to work intensively on specific items. STFs operate under the guidance of a TC or EP.

Each of these committees may establish Working Groups, if required.

Management and oversight

The ETSI Directives lay down how the different types of committee should operate.

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making authority in ETSI. The ETSI Board is the executive arm of the General Assembly and oversees our technical work.